Three years after posting this, this was a very helpful video to find. I'm converting my 15 gallon fresh water tank to salt, and this had some great information in it. Thanks!
If anybody is currently looking and you have a PETCO nearby, there is a special on a 10 gallon tank set up. I bought it yesterday for $40, comes with a 10gallon tank, a filter, a heater, a thermometer, a LED lighted hood and a net. I also have been looking at power heads on eBay and a lot run about $8(free shipping)
Peyton Morrison the tank isn't meant for saltwater and I don't think the filter would be good enough, aswell as the lighting if you want to have coral.
This is probably the best "budget reef tank" video on the internet. Thanks for doing your homework on this one and sharing your knowledge! I have been researching for months and I still learned a couple of things and got a few good tips on reducing my startup cost. :)
Thank you very much! It's pretty difficult to start a saltwater tank inexpensively, and I hope this helps people give saltwater a try before spending a ton of money on a larger tank.
Great video on a simple easy to pull off nano tank for the beginner! A couple of upgrades will make it a lot better and allow for you to keep some coral, something you might want to do since that tank is very small for much in the way of fish and will add a lot of pop to the displays look! I would use a Kessil A-80 Tuna Blue for the light. The other thing I would suggest is going to a Hagen Aquaclear filter thats a size or two bigger than "recommended" tank size. Its a little more cost up front but cheaper to maintain and operate over time. A Aquaclear 30 is what I usually run on a tank this size. Another well worth while upgrade us using a Koralia Nano, the larger of the two in the Nano Series. If you can spring for 2 with the controller that puts power to them alternatingly to create random flow patterns in the tank thats even better!
I love to listen to people who know what they talking about! Saltwater aquariums is not for everybody, but if you want in, you will buy your way into the hobby like everybody else.
Nice video. I live in San Diego and a person can actually build a tank for a lot less. I'm guessing big city lots of reef stores competing so the prices are lower. I found a used biocube on craigslist for $100 with a protein skimmer included, sand for $10, live rock at $2.50 a lb,(10 lbs), thermometer $3, hydrometer for $5 and a $40 test kit.
Nice video and really helps beginners. Having done the same I'd advise not going ultra cheap or you'll regret it. I'd slightly upgrade the waterflow to a cheap 240GPH powerhead ($25) and 20-40 Gallon filter which is optional for $25. If you're doing corals, I'd consider a lamp (or one with a clip) and a reef LED bulb (about $75 total) and you can vary height to ascertain the right intensity and spread. Without the right flow and ability to vary the light, you'll blow anything you save due to failing corals and fighting alge and cyanobacteria. Penny wise, pound foolish. I eventually replaced the filter with a small protein skimmer for $100. The eventual junk buildup and cost of replacing filters made it worthwhile (and I added a cheap $10 powerhead with sponge filter that was easier to maintain.)
Mike...thank you very much for the additional information. Honestly, my experience has been the same as yours...after I started my tank, I would upgrade bits and pieces here and there as I went. In most cases, my recommendations for a budget tank are to give people an idea if the hobby is something they'd like to pursue. Hopefully it gets them hooked and they then continue to upgrade along the way :) Thanks again! BTW...what Reef LED Bulbs have you had luck with?
I would definitely get the protein skimmer. My old protein skimmer looked like it wasn't removing much out of my tank. When it started leaking, I stopped using it. Shortly afterwards, the fish died. I was heart broken and that was 8 years ago. That was my 55 gallon tank. Now, I'm inspired to start a nano 10 gallon tank. Thanks.
Depending on which size tank you want a tight budget for a 125 gallon aquarium with everything included is about $1200 USD. Make sure to future proof with larger filters than you have volume of water in case you want to move up.
Biggest recommendation: buy complete sets off ebay, Craigslist, etc. from people who are moving or don't have time anymore. They're super cheap cause they need to get rid of them!
I really don't know where you guys find cheap tanks online. In my area people keep trying to sell their used tanks for full price or higher than a new one would cost at the store sometimes it's ridiculous.
AnThOnYbAtS7 If you check out some of my other videos on my 10 gallon tank I'll talk about the parameters. I didn't mention salinity and temperature though! I keep the salinity around 1.025 and the temperature around 79 degrees.
Update over a year later - so hooked!! I've lost hundreds in coral in a couple tank disasters and learning and I've easily spent over a couple thousand over time and I'm not even buying the super expensive stuff but did go with better lights, spent tons in corals etc. I don't regret it a bit though, it's an incredible passion and the coral and the fish are just amazing as I love the water and am a avid snorkeler and want to be a diver. I've also found that being a girl reefer we are totally outnumbered! But thank you fish tank guy, I appreciate that you did this video that gave me a start in a new passion. I currently have a 20 long and a 10 gallon quaratine, soon to move to a 29 and probably a 40 breeder next year.
i just saw your how to start up 10g video and i'm trying to do the same set up. im slowly buying the equiment needed, but not sure if i need a rodi system for these small setup. it's my first try at salt water.
That's awesome. I wish you the best of luck. You definitely do not want to use tap water. You can get an rodi system or purchase filtered water from the grocery store.
Hey 'The Fish Tank Guy'. I love your videos. Very informative. I've always had freshwater tanks (20+) but I want to start a nano marine for my little girl. Is there a list of all the items you have bought for this particular tank? Thanks
The only thing I'm worried about is using a incandescent because I thought you couldn't use those with saltwater? or is that just certain types of lighting?
+PrincessLollyGag Ah...just a misunderstanding when I said buy a hood with incandescent lights. The only reason I recommended that for a budget build is because incandescent sockets can hold CFL bulbs. You'll want to put two of these in the hood: amzn.to/1SvhWzH
+Daniel Martinez Nope. However, protein skimmers help make maintenance a little easier as they do some of the dirty work for you. I wouldn't recommend installing a protein skimmer in such a small tank...if you want a 10 gallon tank and would like to include some equipment, I would consider setting up a sump. See my 10G Sump series for some tips.
There are other things in tap water besides chlorine that can be harmful to your tank. For a saltwater tank, and ESPECIALLY if you are building a smaller nano reef, you definitely want to use RODI water. Just an FYI, my newest video, Giveaway #3...I am offering the opportunity to win an RODI system for the cost of shipping only :)
The Fish Tank Guy if we’re only planning on having hardy things in our tank like zoanthids and maybe a mandarin goby or clownfish, couldn’t we get away with just tap water and dechlorinator in that case? I’ve seen it done with success as long as there’s no sensitive life like SPS.
@@pascal590 you can definitely get away with it. Your parameters like ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates will be fluctuating a lot more in a small size tank. Also, remember to use distilled or dechlorinated tap water to top off the aquarium because salt doesn't evaporate.
You really streamlined it down, nice job on that, but one of the things many of these "build a tank for x number of dollars" don't factor into the equation are the "accessory" items type costs (ie drain hose, buckets, marine care test kit, filter media, cost of containers to transport RODI/Saltwater Pre-mix). It can still be done relatively cheap, but a person looking to do their first saltwater tank needs to be aware of these costs. I did a video similar to this where I went over the costs of setting up a 20 gallon long FOWLR tank for just shy of $400 and that includes all the accessory items.
Very nice vid. I actually just did a vid of the same thing, but for a 20 Long. I did forget the cost of the sand and the thermometer but the range I gave was $362-$415 so it should cover that.
The best advise would be to spare no expense if you want your corals to live and the bigger the tank the better. The smaller the tank the quicker it will crash. Gas getting to a from maybe a issue as well if you don't get it all at once ;)
The Fish Tank Guy can you update your 10g marine setup video again I need to see how it get groomed.. I got inspired by ur video and I hv setup a simple 5gallon tank
Nice video. How about getting an AIO tank like a fusion 10G for $100, then you would only need the light, water, sand rock and salt. A fusion 10G would have a much better glass clarity and better filtration than the tank you mentioned.
The Fish Tank Guy Yeah, once I bought a cube that was not an AIO and by the time I spent all the extra money for HOB, and other stuff to make it comparable to an AIO it was more than $100 (not to mention that it was only a 7.5G cube).
Nope! No need for a protein skimmer. Just keep in mind...if you decide you have a saltwater tank, make sure you can set aside an hour a week to do a water change and you'll be good!
@@TheFishTankGuy guess it's more time consuming than changing a freshwater tank? From what I've heard, a skimmer can help increase the amount of time between water changes by removing organic waste from the water? But then again, not cheap.
@@jordynchan5103 Yes, keeping a saltwater tank is more challenging than keeping a freshwater tank. A skimmer unnecessary unless your setup has a high bio load, but it can be helpful if you don't want to change the water as often.
The light bulbs you said we should get I saw some reviews that they are not good for coral so how is it doing for you and if your not using it what are you using now?
If it's hard coral using instant ocean reef salt will add the calcium and necessary stuff for it to survive. If its soft coral you gotta do your research on what they eat because yes they're alive. But regardless for them to grow check your lighting and flow.
Rebecca Elliott It all depends on what type of bulb it will take. Most tanks need a mix of the 10,000K and the Actinic blue spectrum lighting to best keep corals.
Eric Guess Yes and no. I think that ultimately depends on if you have a 20L or a 20H. If you get a 20L, these lights would probably be strong enough to keep most corals due to the shallow depth of the water, however, you could run into issues on a 20H. At bare minimum you should be able to keep softies/mushrooms though.
+mendy furst Mendy, the lights that I chose for this setup are not great for more advanced corals, but they work just fine for softies and many LPS types. I since have decided to keep a wider variety of corals in my 10 gallon tank, so I did purchase a Mars Aqua LED box. You'll find an unboxing video and a setup video of it on my channel. Thanks for your question!
So im thinking about starting a salt water tank with the tips u gave me, thanks by the way ,but do you think you could house 2 clown fish in a tank like this if not what do you recommend?
Jayson T.V. Could you? Sure. Would most people recommend it? Not likely. I've seen numerous builds online where people house two clownfish in a 10g tank. If it's something you'd like to try, I would recommend either building a small sump to accompany it, or make sure you are very diligent with water changes!
+clay motion In a 10 gallon tank, no. You'll want to do a lot of water changes so you don't really need a protein skimmer in such a small tank. If you decide to add a sump, like I did, then you can add a skimmer :)
dont I need reef test kit? I bought both. Not sure which one to return, both are similiar. I dont think the reef has amonia, maybe but amonis sip sticks? What do I feed the corals? A food that I can use for all. I bought a corali nano 30 bucks for 180 gph. same price for a higher output nano! Everything I bought was wrong. Maybe I should start with this budgt since it may not be enough flow! I like to get one with adjustable incase it isnt and not have to keep buying. This tank has cost a fortune so far for a little 10 gallon! Not o mention the ongoing price since I need to change water weekly!
+Jeanne S Filter floss is a little tough to link...because I bought a big ol' bag of Poly-fill at Walmart! You can go into the craft section and buy a big bag of pillow-stuffing/poly fill. You just want to make sure you do NOT get the kind that has anti-flammable chemicals.
well i already have the 10 gallon tank it was a fresh water before...is a 50 watt heater ok to use i live in california so it never gets too cold? this is going to be my first attempt to set up a 10 gallon salt any tips from your part will help thanks
+The Fish Tank Guy thanks well im going to be setting that up pretty soon if you dont mind ill keep asking things here and there kind of nervous because ive never done salt water tanks before
+Noah Dube The great thing about a Biocube is that it's built to provide you with alot of the tools you need to be successful. The lights in the Biocube are good from the start. This size heater would work fine for your tank also. You'd want to look into getting a protein skimmer and an additional powerhead for increased flow as well.
In a 10g reef, as far as flow goes, can I get away with just an oversized HOB filter with no powerhead for circulation? I want to put a seachem tidal 55 on my 10g and have that as sole filtration and certainly it is strong enough but I read somewhere that it wouldn't be the "right" type of flow?
I think that hob filter will work just fine. At 250 GPH that is 25x turnover which will be fine for many coral. When they talk about flow, you should have some randomness in your tank. So if you can divert the flow multiple directions or make sure it's hitting one of the aquarium walls that should cause enough randomness. Good luck!
The Fish Tank Guy awesome thanks so much! One more thing lol. I wanted to turn the filter basket into a refugium. Do u think chaeto will grow well in flow that strong?
You can either go to a local fish store (for me it's Great Erie Reef in Erie, PA...awesome place), or order it online if there's nothing in your area. Reef Cleaners is a great source for dry rock!
FortWayne FishTanks Damsels can tend to be territorial if they have a tank or space to themselves for quite some time. Many people recommend putting them into a tank last. For me, I'm just having one fish in my 10 gallon, so he can bully himself around all he wants :)
Thank you. :) I did this for my granddaughter. The tank sits in a bookcase that is open between the livingroom and her bedroom. It's her headboard. She loves Finding Nemo.
Vincent Taylor Sorry for not clarifying in the video description! The bulbs that I bought for this tank actually screw right into the hood. It's one of the older style hoods that usually comes with incandescent lights!
Dont buy that thermometer. The suction cup will fail overtime and just float around the tank. I have like four of those in each of my tank just floating around.
+Rick Chan Nope! For a smaller tank, you can get by without a plethora of equipment, but you will need to keep up with your water changes. In the budget setup I just had some filter floss in the filter that I would swap out every day or every other day.
+Jasmine Morales Sand changed? If you literally mean changing the sand, the answer is never... However, if you mean vacuuming the sand, that can be done during your water changes!
+Jasmine Morales That's ok! I knew nothing when I started, it's definitely a learning process! If you have questions or need any other advice, either message me on TH-cam or send me a message through Twitter!
I think having had a 30litre marine Bio orb with everything I needed to get it to a "great tank" it was not cheap cheap my light alone was £194 ( UK ) but my total including LIVErock was only £520 That included 1x long spine urchin 1x Common Clown 1x Humbug damsel 1x Algae Blenny 1x Condy Anemone 80+ head colony Zoa 2.5inch green hairy mushroom 4inch Kenyan Tree Unknown red mushroom 3inch Montipora I have now upgraded to a larger tank because of how often I was having to do water changes etc But I would say A, Live rock or sand is a must B, better filtration/flow than a poor quality "powerhead" C, Aim for rock with Coraline Algae already growing on it :)
VERY unlikely if you are buying a sealed bag from a petstore. These companies have to maintain a good reputation and even the slightest mumble of issues with their products would cause people to avoid like the plague.
how many months or weeks before i can add coral? i just transferd my live rock and sand, and 50% of old tank water to a new tank, so its already cycled. but what am i looking for before i can add corals? i have added anemones in the past in my old tank and they all seem to die off...
You need to do water testing. Do you have a testing kit? Test you water, check your levels. Add a good amount of fish food to the tank...check the water parameters again the next day and the following day (and a 3rd day to be safe)...if your ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0, you should be good to add livestock.
Would I be able to keep 2 clown fish in a tank this size? I'm just wondering cause I have a extra 10 gallon tank, a 50 watt heater and a filter for it. The hood uses bulbs. Also are a power head and a wave maker basically the same? There both really only going to be used to make a currant in the tank.
Yes, you can definitely keep two small clown fish, as for your question about the power heads, yes they are essentially the same, but WaveMakers are often more powerful, which you need to be careful about in a smaller tank!
Just became a sub love your nano reef tank, I'm starting mines on the filter can I use original filter it come with or remove original and use the one you explained on the video
Yes! You can use the original filter. Congrats on starting you new tank! You can definitely do it, it just takes patience and a little dedication. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.
+Witz End With a small 10 gallon tank...the heater I listed is fine...if you are not on a budget, I would create a sump (you'll see I have a series about this on my channel), upgrade the lighting, and add a protein skimmer.
Eric Guess This is really up to your discretion, but honestly, the more movement in your system, the better. In a reef system, you at least want 20x turnover, but some people have up to 100x turnover! 20x in a 20g would obviously be about 400 gph, but you'll probably want more than that. Mind your budget to see what your options are, and then go from there.
Lol, I just set up my 20 gallon long fresh, so I still have my 10 gallon tank, hood, heater, and filter. So all I would need are the things to actually get the tank setup. So that runs me at about $75. WORTH IT! BUT - I'd have to buy the fish online, all we have here, within a 5 hr radius is freshwater stores and petsmart. Do you have any recommendations for an online store, possibly near the Georgia/Florida area?
Really? I have links to most of the products...that go to Amazon, so I'm surprised. I'll be doing an updated 2020 version of this video soon...oddly enough, the cost is roughly the same as it was when I made this one!
Is it possible to use an internal filter which can also be used for freshwater aquariums or does is need to be a hangon one specifically for saltwater? I'm new into reef tanks so be easy on me 😉
Can you add tap water to top off the tank? the premixed bag of saltwater didnt fill the 10 gal tank so i added tap. Unfortunately my tank is cloudy right now and my meter is reading below the bottom number (1.014). HELP please. (No fish just the live rock)
For a saltwater tank, you should definitely NOT be topping off with tap water...that's ok though! It's your first go at it, so prepare yourself to make plenty of mistakes :) What meter are you referring to?
Probably not, I wouldn't think so anyways. Ok, so your Fluval meter is measuring salinity...that's what I thought but wasn't sure. Yes, you need to get that salinity up to 1.025-1.026. I would recommend getting a bag of salt separately and some RO water from the grocery store and mixing up some saltwater on your own. Pre-mixed bags/containers don't always work as you'd expect.
+LuckeSlugger11 MC It's a yellow-tailed blue damsel. It can tend to be territorial at times, but if you have it in a larger tank with other fish, it shouldn't be a problem. In a small 10 gallon tank, it's better off alone!
+Jeanne S That'll be great for a 10 gallon setup. If you end up purchasing it through Amazon, I would really appreciate it if you'd use my link (amzn.to/1narT8g), I'm part of the Amazon Associates program. Thanks in advance!
My suggestion would be to go on criagslist. People are normally selling or even giving away a lot of working equipment. I've seen full reef setups for around 100-200 dollars. T__T Wish I would of known this a long time a go.
Hey there, loved the video! Thanks to you, im going to start looking into making my 14 gallon aquarium into a saltwater. I have looked into the items you have described, sadly i am from Europe, and therefor if any of the items get taken by customs, it will be even more expensive. So i was wondering, and if possible if you could perhaps give alternative items(same price wise) but that is possible to buy on UK ebay, or amazon. Thumbs up for the video, you got yourself a new subscriber!
+Simon Isaksen Simon! Thanks for checking out my channel and I really appreciate you subscribing. I hope that I'm able to provide more helpful information for you as your journey into saltwater begins! I can try to look around and see if there are any equivalent items for you on the UK side!
hi! Would the powerhead linked be enough for a 20 g tank? I want one for my 20 and one for my 10 but I don't see anywhere what gallon it goes up to maybe I'm just missing it. If anyone sees is please let me know! ty
It'll help, but I think you'd want to have a larger powerhead for a 20g tank. You'll want at least 10x turnover in your tank if you plan on keeping corals, so at minimum you'll want a powerhead that'll move 200gph. If you are looking at keeping beginner corals, I would say 10-20x turnover should be sufficient!
tip for salt: petsmart has a 15lb bag of instant ocean salt that sells for $21. they price match with chewy.com though, chewy sells it for $8. just got me some yesterday. even the employees at petsmart were amazed lol
you can also find these heaters on amazon for about $8-$13 but be careful, sometimes they break during shipping. luckily mine didnt and its been running in my freshwater tank for a year now.
LOCAL FISH STORES ARE GREAT FOR ROCKS. we have a store here in nc called the fish room and they sell their rocks for about $2 a pound. search for family owned shops.
oooh and clearance sections in petsmart and petco (I dont like to shop here for anything other than sand/gravel and the occasional filter or heater. definitely not fish if you can help it) sometimes have deals on sand. i just found this same sand but in a different color, 2 bags for $13
I haven't added anything lately. I had a crash last summer during one of our heat waves in San Diego. The power companies shut down our electricity when too many people are using a.c., fans etc. I was at work and did not know. Most of my corals died because the tank got over 90 degrees and my anemone took everyone out. Only my clown fish, monte, and a sponge and urchin survived. I was devastated. Eventually I began to get it going again. I bought live rock from my reef shop, but what ever was on that rock took out the corals I had recently purchased and had a aptisia breakout. So what I have now is the Same Clown, same sponge, same urchin, a hammer, a surviving kenya tree a new sponge out of nowhere a few turbo snails, a few blue hermits,, and a peppermint shrimp that took care of the aptisia. I'm just at a place where I'm terrified to buy anything because my tank was beautiful and now looks barren:( 14 g btw...5 year old bio cube.
Wow...that's a pretty crappy string of events you've been dealing with. Yeah, those extreme temperatures, I don't know how you do it! Any power outage like that will subject your tank to big swings in temp...what could you do really? I mean, if you were at home when it happened you could pop some ice cubes into the rear chamber, but if you weren't home...yeah, not much you can do. Anyways, I wish you good luck with it moving forward!
I been home when this has happened and had ice blocks ready, but I was not home when that crash happened. I just bought a biocube 29 for $100 ready to start another tank tho.
I just picked up a bigger biocube. A biocube 29 for $100. So Ill eventually transfer everything from my bc14 to the bc29 and the 14 will be my emergency backup:)
The only reason not to get a 100 watt heater, is the size. Unless you're overpaying you're only going to save a few dollars, so you might as well get the hundred watt heater so you don't need to upgrade the heater if you decide to use it for a 20 gallon aquarium for a 30 gallon aquarium. I would look even further you might find a 200 watt heater or something like that for less than $15, just make sure it has recommendation/ brand. it probably won't cost you any more electricity in fact it might save you electricity because it might be more efficient, and it will heat up the water faster.
I bought a 10 gallon today at Walmart for $15 just a heads up.. I feel I’m an expert at freshwater but I’ve always been to timid to jump into salt until rn.. I’ve already got a 55 and 20 freshwater..
Hi. I am aquiring the things I need to start a nano 10g. My niece got me the Great Choice 10 gallon aquarium kit from petsmart for Christmas. I was wondering instead of totally changing out the lights on the hood if I could use www.petsmart.com/fish/lights/glofish-led-aquarium-light-stick-zid36-20893/cat-36-catid-300073?var_id=36-5203140&_t=pfm%3Dshopping_cart%26pfmvalue%3Dtitle with the lights already on it for the night cycle. Advice much appreciated and ty! Merry Christmas!
+Jeanne S Well, more than likely the included lights in that hood are incandescent lights. Those won't provide the correct levels of light to maintain and keep corals. For the night lighting, you can certainly use the blue LED's, but you'll still have to pursue another option (such as the 50/50 bulbs) in order to keep corals!
Three years after posting this, this was a very helpful video to find. I'm converting my 15 gallon fresh water tank to salt, and this had some great information in it. Thanks!
Glad to hear it! Best of luck to you sir!
If anybody is currently looking and you have a PETCO nearby, there is a special on a 10 gallon tank set up. I bought it yesterday for $40, comes with a 10gallon tank, a filter, a heater, a thermometer, a LED lighted hood and a net. I also have been looking at power heads on eBay and a lot run about $8(free shipping)
THANK YOU!!!!
Thanks for spreading good information to other folks!
Shelby Butler the power heads are probably used they just don’t say. And make sure the light hood is at the right watt
Peyton Morrison the tank isn't meant for saltwater and I don't think the filter would be good enough, aswell as the lighting if you want to have coral.
Shelby Butler I got one for 5 in a yard sale
This is probably the best "budget reef tank" video on the internet. Thanks for doing your homework on this one and sharing your knowledge! I have been researching for months and I still learned a couple of things and got a few good tips on reducing my startup cost. :)
Thank you very much! It's pretty difficult to start a saltwater tank inexpensively, and I hope this helps people give saltwater a try before spending a ton of money on a larger tank.
Great video on a simple easy to pull off nano tank for the beginner! A couple of upgrades will make it a lot better and allow for you to keep some coral, something you might want to do since that tank is very small for much in the way of fish and will add a lot of pop to the displays look! I would use a Kessil A-80 Tuna Blue for the light. The other thing I would suggest is going to a Hagen Aquaclear filter thats a size or two bigger than "recommended" tank size. Its a little more cost up front but cheaper to maintain and operate over time. A Aquaclear 30 is what I usually run on a tank this size. Another well worth while upgrade us using a Koralia Nano, the larger of the two in the Nano Series. If you can spring for 2 with the controller that puts power to them alternatingly to create random flow patterns in the tank thats even better!
Nice run down on keeping it cheap effective and simple.
***** Thanks guys, I try to come up with some content every now and then I don't really see out there in hopes of helping some folks out!
I love to listen to people who know what they talking about! Saltwater aquariums is not for everybody, but if you want in, you will buy your way into the hobby like everybody else.
+Bumpy lump Thank you!
and when you live in Canada double all those prices
canadachop Oh yeah, I've found that some of my viewers over in the UK have to pay big bucks for anything aquarium-related.
and shipping is never free here either :(
The Fish Tank Guy And when you live in Trinidad this is 6 times the amount of money 😂
will this work for 20 gallon fish tanks?
nicholas galante yeah even more so. If you’re just keeping fish is much easier than keeping corals.
Nice video. I live in San Diego and a person can actually build a tank for a lot less. I'm guessing big city lots of reef stores competing so the prices are lower. I found a used biocube on craigslist for $100 with a protein skimmer included, sand for $10, live rock at $2.50 a lb,(10 lbs), thermometer $3, hydrometer for $5 and a $40 test kit.
That's awesome. Finding used items online can result in HUGE savings. Congrats! How's the Biocube doing? 29g or 14g?
Xoch Naungayan I'm in San Diego too. I think I'm going to have a similar build to yours lol.
Probably head down to Mexico and get cheap fish.
Nice video and really helps beginners. Having done the same I'd advise not going ultra cheap or you'll regret it. I'd slightly upgrade the waterflow to a cheap 240GPH powerhead ($25) and 20-40 Gallon filter which is optional for $25. If you're doing corals, I'd consider a lamp (or one with a clip) and a reef LED bulb (about $75 total) and you can vary height to ascertain the right intensity and spread. Without the right flow and ability to vary the light, you'll blow anything you save due to failing corals and fighting alge and cyanobacteria. Penny wise, pound foolish. I eventually replaced the filter with a small protein skimmer for $100. The eventual junk buildup and cost of replacing filters made it worthwhile (and I added a cheap $10 powerhead with sponge filter that was easier to maintain.)
Mike...thank you very much for the additional information. Honestly, my experience has been the same as yours...after I started my tank, I would upgrade bits and pieces here and there as I went. In most cases, my recommendations for a budget tank are to give people an idea if the hobby is something they'd like to pursue. Hopefully it gets them hooked and they then continue to upgrade along the way :) Thanks again! BTW...what Reef LED Bulbs have you had luck with?
I would definitely get the protein skimmer. My old protein skimmer looked like it wasn't removing much out of my tank. When it started leaking, I stopped using it. Shortly afterwards, the fish died. I was heart broken and that was 8 years ago. That was my 55 gallon tank. Now, I'm inspired to start a nano 10 gallon tank. Thanks.
New subbie, although not new to reef tank keeping but outbof the hobby for 40 yrs...so this is good to know TFS
This was honestly really helpful! would you happen to have a guide on larger saltwater tanks on a budget too?
+Kaitlyn Gladney I'm working my way up, so not yet!
Depending on which size tank you want a tight budget for a 125 gallon aquarium with everything included is about $1200 USD. Make sure to future proof with larger filters than you have volume of water in case you want to move up.
Biggest recommendation: buy complete sets off ebay, Craigslist, etc. from people who are moving or don't have time anymore. They're super cheap cause they need to get rid of them!
I really don't know where you guys find cheap tanks online. In my area people keep trying to sell their used tanks for full price or higher than a new one would cost at the store sometimes it's ridiculous.
what are your water parameters? like ammonia? nitrate? salinity? temperature? etc.
AnThOnYbAtS7 If you check out some of my other videos on my 10 gallon tank I'll talk about the parameters. I didn't mention salinity and temperature though! I keep the salinity around 1.025 and the temperature around 79 degrees.
Ph 8.0 or higher, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, depending on corals or anemones nitrates 15ppm or less
May I ask what fish is in that beautiful tank good sir?
That's just a little blue damsel :)
thank you! I am going to do this after wanting a salt water tank for sooo many years :D subbed!
+Le Coeur Give it a shot! Be warned... You might get hooked.
Update over a year later - so hooked!! I've lost hundreds in coral in a couple tank disasters and learning and I've easily spent over a couple thousand over time and I'm not even buying the super expensive stuff but did go with better lights, spent tons in corals etc. I don't regret it a bit though, it's an incredible passion and the coral and the fish are just amazing as I love the water and am a avid snorkeler and want to be a diver. I've also found that being a girl reefer we are totally outnumbered! But thank you fish tank guy, I appreciate that you did this video that gave me a start in a new passion. I currently have a 20 long and a 10 gallon quaratine, soon to move to a 29 and probably a 40 breeder next year.
It’s cheaper to buy dry rock on Amazon it’s like 40LBS for $50 shipping free. It also looks the same as Carib sea dry rock just not name brand.
Thanks for the tip!
i just saw your how to start up 10g video and i'm trying to do the same set up. im slowly buying the equiment needed, but not sure if i need a rodi system for these small setup. it's my first try at salt water.
That's awesome. I wish you the best of luck. You definitely do not want to use tap water. You can get an rodi system or purchase filtered water from the grocery store.
Hey 'The Fish Tank Guy'. I love your videos. Very informative. I've always had freshwater tanks (20+) but I want to start a nano marine for my little girl. Is there a list of all the items you have bought for this particular tank? Thanks
The only thing I'm worried about is using a incandescent because I thought you couldn't use those with saltwater? or is that just certain types of lighting?
+PrincessLollyGag Ah...just a misunderstanding when I said buy a hood with incandescent lights. The only reason I recommended that for a budget build is because incandescent sockets can hold CFL bulbs. You'll want to put two of these in the hood: amzn.to/1SvhWzH
I would just use the hot glued waterproof led strips. They're super cheap and very bright.
do you need a protein skimmer ?
+Daniel Martinez Nope. However, protein skimmers help make maintenance a little easier as they do some of the dirty work for you. I wouldn't recommend installing a protein skimmer in such a small tank...if you want a 10 gallon tank and would like to include some equipment, I would consider setting up a sump. See my 10G Sump series for some tips.
Thanks
You don't NEED to buy distilled water, right? Can't you buy the instant ocean box of salt and use a de chlorinated like Seachem Prime?
There are other things in tap water besides chlorine that can be harmful to your tank. For a saltwater tank, and ESPECIALLY if you are building a smaller nano reef, you definitely want to use RODI water. Just an FYI, my newest video, Giveaway #3...I am offering the opportunity to win an RODI system for the cost of shipping only :)
The Fish Tank Guy if we’re only planning on having hardy things in our tank like zoanthids and maybe a mandarin goby or clownfish, couldn’t we get away with just tap water and dechlorinator in that case? I’ve seen it done with success as long as there’s no sensitive life like SPS.
@@pascal590 you can definitely get away with it. Your parameters like ph, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates will be fluctuating a lot more in a small size tank. Also, remember to use distilled or dechlorinated tap water to top off the aquarium because salt doesn't evaporate.
You really streamlined it down, nice job on that, but one of the things many of these "build a tank for x number of dollars" don't factor into the equation are the "accessory" items type costs (ie drain hose, buckets, marine care test kit, filter media, cost of containers to transport RODI/Saltwater Pre-mix). It can still be done relatively cheap, but a person looking to do their first saltwater tank needs to be aware of these costs. I did a video similar to this where I went over the costs of setting up a 20 gallon long FOWLR tank for just shy of $400 and that includes all the accessory items.
Liked and Subscribed.
Likewise! Looking forward to checking out your channel!
Very nice vid. I actually just did a vid of the same thing, but for a 20 Long. I did forget the cost of the sand and the thermometer but the range I gave was $362-$415 so it should cover that.
The best advise would be to spare no expense if you want your corals to live and the bigger the tank the better. The smaller the tank the quicker it will crash. Gas getting to a from maybe a issue as well if you don't get it all at once ;)
+TattooCraze InkStudio Haha....no doubt. I've made PLENTY of trips to the local fish stores in my area!!
$50 in gas. Give or take. lol awesome video btw.
did u forget the test kit ??
Wajih Tarbine Ha! Good catch ;)
The Fish Tank Guy can you update your 10g marine setup video again I need to see how it get groomed.. I got inspired by ur video and I hv setup a simple 5gallon tank
@Crippled Potato if you trust petsMart with your water tests you might want to find another hobby.
Nice video. How about getting an AIO tank like a fusion 10G for $100, then you would only need the light, water, sand rock and salt. A fusion 10G would have a much better glass clarity and better filtration than the tank you mentioned.
It's definitely a great option for folks. I personally picked up the Fluval 5g EVO, which is a nice little AIO tank as well.
The Fish Tank Guy Yeah, once I bought a cube that was not an AIO and by the time I spent all the extra money for HOB, and other stuff to make it comparable to an AIO it was more than $100 (not to mention that it was only a 7.5G cube).
I assume a protein skimmer isn't needed for a tank that size, as the ones I've seen at my LFS are not cheap.
Nope! No need for a protein skimmer. Just keep in mind...if you decide you have a saltwater tank, make sure you can set aside an hour a week to do a water change and you'll be good!
@@TheFishTankGuy guess it's more time consuming than changing a freshwater tank? From what I've heard, a skimmer can help increase the amount of time between water changes by removing organic waste from the water? But then again, not cheap.
@@jordynchan5103 Yes, keeping a saltwater tank is more challenging than keeping a freshwater tank. A skimmer unnecessary unless your setup has a high bio load, but it can be helpful if you don't want to change the water as often.
Letting everyone know the $1 per gallon sale is happening at Petco right now until August. So right now is the best time to get a tank
Thank you!
is this the king of diy?
Nope
Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 10 is a great tank if you van get one for a good price
I checked it out...looks like a pretty awesome tank :)
What is the type of lid your using for the tank? I what to try to order it all on Amazon
I can try to send you updated links for everything. I'm out of town at the moment, but I could get them to you by Monday!
@@TheFishTankGuy OK, send me the update links
@@TheFishTankGuy and what type of filter pad does the quiet flow filter take?
Did you Do a fish in cycle or a non fish cycle? And how long did it take to cycle with the dry rock??
Can you put 1 clownfish in it?
On the record? Yep. Off the record, I had two in mine 😏
@@TheFishTankGuy so yes lol
@@TheFishTankGuy thanks
Androidski remember this rule of thumb 1 inch of fish per gallon
@@Brian-cr1ep I would rather not follow this rule
What was the price of everything please? I am trying to get one started I am kind on a budget also I love your videos.
He said it was all together about $216 usd
The light bulbs you said we should get I saw some reviews that they are not good for coral so how is it doing for you and if your not using it what are you using now?
Mendy Furst well, do u see any corals in that tank? no
hey fish tank guy do u add anything to keep the coral alive? like any nutrients or anything like that?
MJ DeNardo I am not the fish tank guy but I would recommend life sand cause it has the bacteria you need for coral and fish
If it's hard coral using instant ocean reef salt will add the calcium and necessary stuff for it to survive. If its soft coral you gotta do your research on what they eat because yes they're alive. But regardless for them to grow check your lighting and flow.
I have a secondhand tank and hood but the hood will only take one long light bulb. can I still use it? Thanks!
Rebecca Elliott It all depends on what type of bulb it will take. Most tanks need a mix of the 10,000K and the Actinic blue spectrum lighting to best keep corals.
Is a 20gal set up like this possible?
Eric Guess Yes and no. I think that ultimately depends on if you have a 20L or a 20H. If you get a 20L, these lights would probably be strong enough to keep most corals due to the shallow depth of the water, however, you could run into issues on a 20H. At bare minimum you should be able to keep softies/mushrooms though.
+mendy furst Mendy, the lights that I chose for this setup are not great for more advanced corals, but they work just fine for softies and many LPS types. I since have decided to keep a wider variety of corals in my 10 gallon tank, so I did purchase a Mars Aqua LED box. You'll find an unboxing video and a setup video of it on my channel. Thanks for your question!
So im thinking about starting a salt water tank with the tips u gave me, thanks by the way ,but do you think you could house 2 clown fish in a tank like this if not what do you recommend?
Jayson T.V. Could you? Sure. Would most people recommend it? Not likely. I've seen numerous builds online where people house two clownfish in a 10g tank. If it's something you'd like to try, I would recommend either building a small sump to accompany it, or make sure you are very diligent with water changes!
@the fish tank guy do you use water skkimer
+clay motion In a 10 gallon tank, no. You'll want to do a lot of water changes so you don't really need a protein skimmer in such a small tank. If you decide to add a sump, like I did, then you can add a skimmer :)
dont I need reef test kit? I bought both. Not sure which one to return, both are similiar. I dont think the reef has amonia, maybe but amonis sip sticks? What do I feed the corals? A food that I can use for all. I bought a corali nano 30 bucks for 180 gph. same price for a higher output nano! Everything I bought was wrong. Maybe I should start with this budgt since it may not be enough flow! I like to get one with adjustable incase it isnt and not have to keep buying. This tank has cost a fortune so far for a little 10 gallon! Not o mention the ongoing price since I need to change water weekly!
what filter floss did you get? You didn't link it :( .
+Jeanne S Filter floss is a little tough to link...because I bought a big ol' bag of Poly-fill at Walmart! You can go into the craft section and buy a big bag of pillow-stuffing/poly fill. You just want to make sure you do NOT get the kind that has anti-flammable chemicals.
well i already have the 10 gallon tank it was a fresh water before...is a 50 watt heater ok to use i live in california so it never gets too cold? this is going to be my first attempt to set up a 10 gallon salt any tips from your part will help thanks
+Luis Medina 50 watt heater will definitely be enough for you tank...especially given where you live :)
+The Fish Tank Guy thanks well im going to be setting that up pretty soon if you dont mind ill keep asking things here and there kind of nervous because ive never done salt water tanks before
+Luis Medina Yes of course, I'll do my best to get back to you as I'm able! Good luck!
Would this work for the 14 Gallon bio cube. If not, can you explain what I would need.
+Noah Dube The great thing about a Biocube is that it's built to provide you with alot of the tools you need to be successful. The lights in the Biocube are good from the start. This size heater would work fine for your tank also. You'd want to look into getting a protein skimmer and an additional powerhead for increased flow as well.
In a 10g reef, as far as flow goes, can I get away with just an oversized HOB filter with no powerhead for circulation? I want to put a seachem tidal 55 on my 10g and have that as sole filtration and certainly it is strong enough but I read somewhere that it wouldn't be the "right" type of flow?
I think that hob filter will work just fine. At 250 GPH that is 25x turnover which will be fine for many coral. When they talk about flow, you should have some randomness in your tank. So if you can divert the flow multiple directions or make sure it's hitting one of the aquarium walls that should cause enough randomness. Good luck!
The Fish Tank Guy awesome thanks so much! One more thing lol. I wanted to turn the filter basket into a refugium. Do u think chaeto will grow well in flow that strong?
It should grow just fine, but keep in mind that you'll need to provide a light source for it!
omg how did you get dry rock
You can either go to a local fish store (for me it's Great Erie Reef in Erie, PA...awesome place), or order it online if there's nothing in your area. Reef Cleaners is a great source for dry rock!
thank you
I am thinking about getting a nano here in the future. Is that yellowtail damsel aggressive?
FortWayne FishTanks Damsels can tend to be territorial if they have a tank or space to themselves for quite some time. Many people recommend putting them into a tank last. For me, I'm just having one fish in my 10 gallon, so he can bully himself around all he wants :)
Um, how do you change the water? Suction? The pump???
Gravel Vac!
Thank you. :) I did this for my granddaughter. The tank sits in a bookcase that is open between the livingroom and her bedroom. It's her headboard. She loves Finding Nemo.
How many fish can you put in
In a tank this small, I would not recommend any more than 2 small fish.
On the link for your lights it shows the bulb that you bought, put what do you have them hooked up to? Thanks
Vincent Taylor Sorry for not clarifying in the video description! The bulbs that I bought for this tank actually screw right into the hood. It's one of the older style hoods that usually comes with incandescent lights!
can i go with live rock is my budget is a bit more accepting of it? and if i can, do i make any changes to any of the items you recommended me to get?
Live rock is good
robbbcruzzz no don't make changes but it's so mush better
what bulbs are you using?
Dont buy that thermometer. The suction cup will fail overtime and just float around the tank. I have like four of those in each of my tank just floating around.
visualkeirockstar should probably have taken those out
Put the suction cup on the bottom and stick it into the sand
There are magnetic suction cups that shouldn't fall off. I'm thinking of getting some.
Get a digital thermometer they run about $8 but theres no guess work on what the temp is like
hi you dont need skimmer? what filter media do you use?
+Rick Chan Nope! For a smaller tank, you can get by without a plethora of equipment, but you will need to keep up with your water changes. In the budget setup I just had some filter floss in the filter that I would swap out every day or every other day.
How often should sand be changed in a 36 gal??
+Jasmine Morales Sand changed? If you literally mean changing the sand, the answer is never... However, if you mean vacuuming the sand, that can be done during your water changes!
The Fish Tank Guy The first part is what I mean lol sorry if I sound dumb I'm just trying to get to know how saltwater tanks work
+Jasmine Morales That's ok! I knew nothing when I started, it's definitely a learning process! If you have questions or need any other advice, either message me on TH-cam or send me a message through Twitter!
Did you cure the rock before you put it in your tank?
Nope, just give it a good rinse in the saltwater in a bucket or so to get rid of debris that will cloud your aquarium
what is that fish you currently have in there
That was a blue damsel
I thought reef dont need filters? Whats up with the aquaclear filter?
I think having had a 30litre marine Bio orb
with everything I needed to get it to a "great tank" it was not cheap cheap
my light alone was £194 ( UK ) but my total including LIVErock was only £520
That included
1x long spine urchin
1x Common Clown
1x Humbug damsel
1x Algae Blenny
1x Condy Anemone
80+ head colony Zoa
2.5inch green hairy mushroom
4inch Kenyan Tree
Unknown red mushroom
3inch Montipora
I have now upgraded to a larger tank because of how often I was having to do water changes etc
But I would say
A, Live rock or sand is a must
B, better filtration/flow than a poor quality "powerhead"
C, Aim for rock with Coraline Algae already growing on it :)
What are the odds of getting pathogens in live sand? (bad bacteria, fungal disease, marine ich)?
VERY unlikely if you are buying a sealed bag from a petstore. These companies have to maintain a good reputation and even the slightest mumble of issues with their products would cause people to avoid like the plague.
how many months or weeks before i can add coral? i just transferd my live rock and sand, and 50% of old tank water to a new tank, so its already cycled. but what am i looking for before i can add corals? i have added anemones in the past in my old tank and they all seem to die off...
You need to do water testing. Do you have a testing kit? Test you water, check your levels. Add a good amount of fish food to the tank...check the water parameters again the next day and the following day (and a 3rd day to be safe)...if your ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0, you should be good to add livestock.
Would I be able to keep 2 clown fish in a tank this size? I'm just wondering cause I have a extra 10 gallon tank, a 50 watt heater and a filter for it. The hood uses bulbs. Also are a power head and a wave maker basically the same? There both really only going to be used to make a currant in the tank.
Yes, you can definitely keep two small clown fish, as for your question about the power heads, yes they are essentially the same, but WaveMakers are often more powerful, which you need to be careful about in a smaller tank!
Just became a sub love your nano reef tank, I'm starting mines on the filter can I use original filter it come with or remove original and use the one you explained on the video
Yes! You can use the original filter. Congrats on starting you new tank! You can definitely do it, it just takes patience and a little dedication. Feel free to message me if you have any questions.
The Fish Tank Guy thanks a bunch check out my channel uploaded a video of my nano, on temperature what's the temperature for a saltwater aquarium?
Can I put 1 or 2 clownfish in that tank? I want to try to own a clownfish I have own other types of fish
I kept a pair of clownfish in this same tank for quite a while. You can def keep clowns :)
so if im not on a budget what could i change?
+Witz End With a small 10 gallon tank...the heater I listed is fine...if you are not on a budget, I would create a sump (you'll see I have a series about this on my channel), upgrade the lighting, and add a protein skimmer.
I paid $220 for my 10gal set up with 20lbs live sand, 10lb live rock, and a Fluval Aquasky LED light.
That's awesome. How has the tank been working out for you so far?
Also how many GPH powerhead(s) needed for a 20 gal reef?
Eric Guess This is really up to your discretion, but honestly, the more movement in your system, the better. In a reef system, you at least want 20x turnover, but some people have up to 100x turnover! 20x in a 20g would obviously be about 400 gph, but you'll probably want more than that. Mind your budget to see what your options are, and then go from there.
what fish is in the tank? I'm planning of getting one
Hi, would like to ask if I were to use distilled water, do I still need to add any form of anti chlorine before mixing with salt mix?
Nope! You should be just fine!
Hello, just one question can I use Aqeuon Quietflow 20 Filter to prove the flow instead using a Rio Plus 180 Aqua Pump.
Or using Aqeuon Quietflow 30 instead? Will it generate enough flow for the tank?
Just buy a wavemaker. They don’t cost that much money
Lol, I just set up my 20 gallon long fresh, so I still have my 10 gallon tank, hood, heater, and filter. So all I would need are the things to actually get the tank setup. So that runs me at about $75. WORTH IT! BUT - I'd have to buy the fish online, all we have here, within a 5 hr radius is freshwater stores and petsmart. Do you have any recommendations for an online store, possibly near the Georgia/Florida area?
My lights cost more than the whole setup so great advice man for new comers lol
you can purchase everything you mentioned new at 30 to 40% off the prices you mentioned ON AMAZON or EBAY
Really? I have links to most of the products...that go to Amazon, so I'm surprised. I'll be doing an updated 2020 version of this video soon...oddly enough, the cost is roughly the same as it was when I made this one!
Is it possible to use an internal filter which can also be used for freshwater aquariums or does is need to be a hangon one specifically for saltwater? I'm new into reef tanks so be easy on me 😉
Can you add tap water to top off the tank? the premixed bag of saltwater didnt fill the 10 gal tank so i added tap. Unfortunately my tank is cloudy right now and my meter is reading below the bottom number (1.014). HELP please. (No fish just the live rock)
For a saltwater tank, you should definitely NOT be topping off with tap water...that's ok though! It's your first go at it, so prepare yourself to make plenty of mistakes :) What meter are you referring to?
The Fish Tank Guy fluval seameter
The Fish Tank Guy i wonder if i killed the live rock by doing this
Probably not, I wouldn't think so anyways. Ok, so your Fluval meter is measuring salinity...that's what I thought but wasn't sure. Yes, you need to get that salinity up to 1.025-1.026. I would recommend getting a bag of salt separately and some RO water from the grocery store and mixing up some saltwater on your own. Pre-mixed bags/containers don't always work as you'd expect.
The Fish Tank Guy should i dump the old water? Or just add water with salt to the mixin? Keep in mind, i have live sand in there too... :(
+The Fish Tank Guy What type of fish is that in the tank? And would it work well with a pair of clownfish and/or fire fish? Thanks!
+LuckeSlugger11 MC It's a yellow-tailed blue damsel. It can tend to be territorial at times, but if you have it in a larger tank with other fish, it shouldn't be a problem. In a small 10 gallon tank, it's better off alone!
Wow ! Very good tip bro.
Thank you.
where'd you get the power head and the little nozzle thing on it?
+Jeanne S Here's exactly the item you are looking for! amzn.to/1UcxXIj
. Will this be enough sand? it's a 10 lb live sand www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176EB0G?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
+Jeanne S That'll be great for a 10 gallon setup. If you end up purchasing it through Amazon, I would really appreciate it if you'd use my link (amzn.to/1narT8g), I'm part of the Amazon Associates program. Thanks in advance!
O ipurchased it a couple weeks ago lol. just waiting on everything else to arrive :( sorry
I bought it from that link too lmao!
What aquaclear is that?
My suggestion would be to go on criagslist. People are normally selling or even giving away a lot of working equipment. I've seen full reef setups for around 100-200 dollars. T__T Wish I would of known this a long time a go.
Hey there, loved the video! Thanks to you, im going to start looking into making my 14 gallon aquarium into a saltwater.
I have looked into the items you have described, sadly i am from Europe, and therefor if any of the items get taken by customs, it will be even more expensive.
So i was wondering, and if possible if you could perhaps give alternative items(same price wise) but that is possible to buy on UK ebay, or amazon.
Thumbs up for the video, you got yourself a new subscriber!
+Simon Isaksen Simon! Thanks for checking out my channel and I really appreciate you subscribing. I hope that I'm able to provide more helpful information for you as your journey into saltwater begins! I can try to look around and see if there are any equivalent items for you on the UK side!
Thank you very much! I appreciate you taking time for that. Big thumbs up!
+The Fish Tank Guy
hi! Would the powerhead linked be enough for a 20 g tank? I want one for my 20 and one for my 10 but I don't see anywhere what gallon it goes up to maybe I'm just missing it. If anyone sees is please let me know! ty
It'll help, but I think you'd want to have a larger powerhead for a 20g tank. You'll want at least 10x turnover in your tank if you plan on keeping corals, so at minimum you'll want a powerhead that'll move 200gph. If you are looking at keeping beginner corals, I would say 10-20x turnover should be sufficient!
The Fish Tank Guy awesome thank you!
Great video 👍 thanks for sharing!
How much was this entire setup
+Kyle Kleveno Dude said around $215
tip for salt: petsmart has a 15lb bag of instant ocean salt that sells for $21. they price match with chewy.com though, chewy sells it for $8. just got me some yesterday. even the employees at petsmart were amazed lol
also, petco sometimes has a $1 per gallon sale if youre a member. so you can get a 10 gallon tank for $10
you can also find these heaters on amazon for about $8-$13 but be careful, sometimes they break during shipping. luckily mine didnt and its been running in my freshwater tank for a year now.
LOCAL FISH STORES ARE GREAT FOR ROCKS. we have a store here in nc called the fish room and they sell their rocks for about $2 a pound. search for family owned shops.
oooh and clearance sections in petsmart and petco (I dont like to shop here for anything other than sand/gravel and the occasional filter or heater. definitely not fish if you can help it) sometimes have deals on sand. i just found this same sand but in a different color, 2 bags for $13
These are all great tips! I gave you the thumbs up and the heart on each of them! Thanks for sharing.
Do I need a power head if I have a 175 gph filter?
yes. ur filter will make a flow, butnot a current, per say say. just do it. its ten bucks.
So can i use distilled water from walmart the great value brand.
Yep, that'll work just fine!
could this apply to 20g
+PS4 Genius Yes and no, you'll just need more of everything. After ten gallons, the lighting situation isn't quite so straight forward...
oh, thanks
could you try to do a 20 gallon video?
+PS4 Genius Yes, I could possibly do that. You thinking twenty gallon long or high?
long, cheaper i think
Do i need a heater i live in a tropical country (Philippines)
what kind of fish is that
A yellow tail damselfish
can you build a 10 gallon tank step by step
Ashley Turner if you subscribe to my channel, you'll find I have s good number of videos in a playlist about setting up my ten gallon nano reef!
Hi i found ur channel and just started to do coral reef collection, do skimmer protein really essential wavemaker is it necessary?
FYI everyone, the fish is a yellowtail damselfish, usually $5. Very easy fish to keep but territorial
I haven't added anything lately. I had a crash last summer during one of our heat waves in San Diego. The power companies shut down our electricity when too many people are using a.c., fans etc. I was at work and did not know. Most of my corals died because the tank got over 90 degrees and my anemone took everyone out. Only my clown fish, monte, and a sponge and urchin survived. I was devastated. Eventually I began to get it going again. I bought live rock from my reef shop, but what ever was on that rock took out the corals I had recently purchased and had a aptisia breakout. So what I have now is the Same Clown, same sponge, same urchin, a hammer, a surviving kenya tree a new sponge out of nowhere a few turbo snails, a few blue hermits,, and a peppermint shrimp that took care of the aptisia. I'm just at a place where I'm terrified to buy anything because my tank was beautiful and now looks barren:( 14 g btw...5 year old bio cube.
Wow...that's a pretty crappy string of events you've been dealing with. Yeah, those extreme temperatures, I don't know how you do it! Any power outage like that will subject your tank to big swings in temp...what could you do really? I mean, if you were at home when it happened you could pop some ice cubes into the rear chamber, but if you weren't home...yeah, not much you can do. Anyways, I wish you good luck with it moving forward!
I been home when this has happened and had ice blocks ready, but I was not home when that crash happened. I just bought a biocube 29 for $100 ready to start another tank tho.
I just picked up a bigger biocube. A biocube 29 for $100. So Ill eventually transfer everything from my bc14 to the bc29 and the 14 will be my emergency backup:)
+The Fish Tank Guy will all of these stuff work in a 20 gallon fish tank to?
can I buy marine salt and mix it with tap for the actual salt water
The only reason not to get a 100 watt heater, is the size.
Unless you're overpaying you're only going to save a few dollars, so you might as well get the hundred watt heater so you don't need to upgrade the heater if you decide to use it for a 20 gallon aquarium for a 30 gallon aquarium.
I would look even further you might find a 200 watt heater or something like that for less than $15, just make sure it has recommendation/ brand.
it probably won't cost you any more electricity in fact it might save you electricity because it might be more efficient, and it will heat up the water faster.
I bought a 10 gallon today at Walmart for $15 just a heads up..
I feel I’m an expert at freshwater but I’ve always been to timid to jump into salt until rn..
I’ve already got a 55 and 20 freshwater..
Hi. I am aquiring the things I need to start a nano 10g. My niece got me the Great Choice 10 gallon aquarium kit from petsmart for Christmas. I was wondering instead of totally changing out the lights on the hood if I could use www.petsmart.com/fish/lights/glofish-led-aquarium-light-stick-zid36-20893/cat-36-catid-300073?var_id=36-5203140&_t=pfm%3Dshopping_cart%26pfmvalue%3Dtitle with the lights already on it for the night cycle. Advice much appreciated and ty! Merry Christmas!
+Jeanne S Well, more than likely the included lights in that hood are incandescent lights. Those won't provide the correct levels of light to maintain and keep corals. For the night lighting, you can certainly use the blue LED's, but you'll still have to pursue another option (such as the 50/50 bulbs) in order to keep corals!
Do you find that the 50/50 bulbs work well? That's what I am thinking of getting.